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Author
Topic: What a birthday present (Read 4782 times)

I just found out I was Poz the 29th of Oct, a few weeks after I turned 40. at first I was scared and all I could think about is I'm going to die too young. After talkinig to my friends, and doctor, I soon came to realize that I'm going to be ok, I may have to take some pills every day until they find a cure, and be forthcoming with sexual partners about my status, but Im going to be around just as long as everybody else. My doctor told me that he didn't know when I was going to die, I might get hit by a truck, or struck by lightning but HIV is not going to kill me, its not the 80's, the meds now are better with fewer side effects and as long as Im good to my body, and adhere to a good medication regimen, Ill be fine. I got my numbers the other day, no other infections, liver, kidney and blood sugar normal, little low on vitamin D but the doc says eveyone is and just to take a supplement. my Viral load is 1600 and my white blood cell is 1150, doc says this is good, and that I wasnt infected too long ago, which is also good. Id just like to say, there is a lot of good info on the web, but also a lot of bad scary info. Lots of sites and posts give you the worse case scenario, so if your newly infected, dont freak, go talk to a good doctor that specializes in HIV and you will start to feel better, life goes on, and so will you.

Love your Positive (no pun intended) attitude..you seem to know where you are heading, so keep on track, I have been here for 7 years now, apart from my husband and kids, this is the best place for support and advise.

Granny60

Those are pretty decent numbers! Knowing you are pos. early is the key to doing VERY well. With regular monitoring, you will know when to start meds and avoid the bad things that happened to those of us who didn't know till lightning had struck us many times. Great outlook and great prospects!

Thanks for the welcome, Im curious, did anybody else get the hopeful outlook from their doctor that I did, I guess I'm just curious. The physical implications aren't what they used to be, I understand about the mental issues given the stigma, but right now im not too worried about that, I have great friends, and a good life, I just don't want to sound like a sunshine pump

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Granny60

I know several that got super prospects from their doctors. Seems like the younger you are, the more recent your infection, the higher your CD4, and being diagnosed in the the past few years, the better prognosis ANDTRULY the better you do! Some I have heard from that fall in those parameters don't notice their life changes any more than having to take pill a day.

Thanks for the welcome, Im curious, did anybody else get the hopeful outlook from their doctor that I did, I guess I'm just curious. The physical implications aren't what they used to be, I understand about the mental issues given the stigma, but right now im not too worried about that, I have great friends, and a good life, I just don't want to sound like a sunshine pump

I am 48 years old and was never tested until last May. I have full blown AIDS. Talk about freaking out! My doc is aggressive and likes to take a proactive approach to any given issue. My prognosis is very, very good. I am responding very well to Atripla and he said there is no reason to be concerned that anything will change (numbers wise) in the immediate future. I am healthy and to be honest, healthier than I have been in years.

I had a half dozen doctors in the hospital all tell me basically the same thing. This disease is not the same as it was in the 1980's or even 10 years ago. They told me they could manage it and reverse the numbers. They have done just that.

I live life differently than I did before. No more drugs. Limited alcohol and healthy eating. I take this disease seriously but not too seriously. I celebrate the victories, like good lab results, but keep an eye out for changes in my health. I am also seeing a psychiatrist and am on Prozac. My family and friends are supportive and I plan on fighting this as long as I can. I don't take things for granted anymore. Things like the sunshine, good food, good music, the love of family and friends. I try to take every opportunity to get the most out of this life that comes my way.

If it took HIV/AIDS to force some needed lifestyle changes, well, so be it. I am by no means suggesting there is anything POZ about having AIDS but in the end, life is what I make it and AIDS is just part who I am not what I am.

Thanks for sharing your "sunshine."

Logged

Diagnosed in May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX - FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS

Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325